Herb and spice
19 Aug 2013
There are an abundance of ways you can help treat illness and manage pain. It’s all about knowing which herb to use.
When you don’t have access to a chemist or supermarket, it’s still possible to gain some relief from pain or illness.
Herbal remedies are made from plants and herbs that you can grow in your garden, plus a few ingredients that you’ll have stocked in your pantry.
Cold and flu
While the common cold cannot be cured entirely, it’s possible to manage the pain and symptoms you experience. Herbal teas with lemon, eucalyptus and mint served with some honey are great to soothe sore throats and ease congestion.
Essential oils are also a calming complement to traditional medication. Clove, cinnamon, oregano, thyme and tea tree are fantastic to fight the germs and bacteria that make us sick.
Cayenne pepper is a stimulating spice that can help clear your airways. Try adding one eighth of a teaspoon (at most) to your daily cup of tea.
Another soothing tea to try is cinnamon and honey. Use one teaspoon of cinnamon chips for one cup of water or a medium stick for two cups. Simmer together for at least ten minutes then add honey to taste.
Arthritis
Herbs, such as white willow and spices, such as cayenne work well with prescription and over-the-counter drugs when it comes to arthritis as they contain salicylates, like what is found in aspirin. Arthritis occurs when there is a build up of acid in the body. Acid collects on the joints and causes swelling. In order to help the pains associated with arthritis, a good starting point is to try and change the pH balance in your body by consuming less acidic foods.
When it comes to mixing essential oils to help alleviate the pain, try five drops of chamomile, five drops of eucalyptus and five drops of lavender. Rub the mixture on any joints that are painful.
Insomnia
Dawn starts to break and you haven’t shut your eyes yet. Sound like a familiar story?
A bath before bedtime is always a nice way to relax the mind and body. Completely switch off, dim the lights, pop some soft music on and add some natural bubble bath and Epsom salt.
If you’ve got some chamomile tea at home, drinking some before bedtime can also help you switch off.
Another helpful and handy remedy is lavender. Having some lavender flowers around the home will help you move into that sleep state as will burning some lavender essential oil in your room. Another way to use lavender is to place a bit of oil on your index finger tip and rub it on your temples.
Other essential oils that you can use are jasmine, ylang-ylang and eucalyptus.
Skin care
Skin care can become expensive, especially when you have an ongoing skin condition such as eczema, rosacea or psoriasis. Natural, herbal remedies can replace cosmetic skin care products that you purchase and usually are better for your skin because there are no chemicals. Herbal treatments can also help skin problems caused by external agents such as allergies from grass or plants.
A chamomile and oatmeal bath is a soothing relief for rashes and sunburn, and to treat dry skin. Just pour three cups of boiling water over one cup of oatmeal. Add three tablespoons of chamomile flowers. Strain the liquid using a piece of gauze, tie the cloth firmly and float the bag in the water. Add a few drops of chamomile essential oil to the bath if you wish.
Placing a wet, cool teabag on any affected area is also a wonderful, easy and cheap way to soothe bruises and sunburn, and to fight a bacterial infection.
Do you have any other homemade herbal remedies that you use? Share them on our Facebook page.
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